Hand-held ultraviolet water purification system

Abstract

A hand-held water purification system includes a pen-light sized ultraviolet lamp that is enclosed in a quartz cover and is powered by a battery and associated ballast circuitry. The battery and ballast circuitry are connected to the lamp by switches that are under the control of a liquid-level sensor. The sensor connects the battery, the ballast circuitry and the lamp once the sensor determines that the ultraviolet lamp is fully immersed in the water. If the container that holds the water is relatively large, the lamp and quartz cover end of the system are used to stir the water, to ensure that all of the water comes sufficiently close to the ultraviolet lamp.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hand-held water purification system including: A. a case that supports the system, the case having an interior, an exterior, a first end and a second end and being sized to be held in one hand;   B. a battery and associated ballast circuit that fit into the interior of the case and power an ultraviolet light source;   C. an ultraviolet light source and associated ultraviolet transmissive cover for immersion into non-flowing water with the light source turning on to purify the water, the ultraviolet light source extending outwardly from the first end of the case and the ultraviolet transmissive cover having a first end and a second end and fitting over the ultraviolet light source, the cover attaching at the first end to the case to form a water-tight enclosure for the light source and extending outwardly from the case; and   D. a liquid-level sensor that prevents the light source from turning on until the light source is immersed in water.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 further including a timing circuit that turns the light source off a predetermined time after the sensor turns the light source on. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1 wherein: a. the battery is rechargeable; and   b. the system further includes a battery charger.   
     
     
       4. A method of purifying water that is held in a container, the method including the steps of: A. turning a hand-held water purification system on;   B. holding the system by hand, so as to immerse in the water to be purified, an ultraviolet light source and associated water-tight ultraviolet transmissive cover that are part of the hand-held water purification system and extend outwardly from other system components to form a first end of the system;   C. sensing that the light source is immersed fully in the water;   D. turning the light source on to emit ultraviolet radiation in the container, the radiation purifying the water; and   E. turning the light source off and removing the light source and associated cover from the water after a predetermined time associated with purifying the water.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 further including the step of agitating the water by stirring the water with the first end of the system. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 4 further including the step of turning the light source off a predetermined time after the light source is turned on. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 4 further including the step of turning the light source off a predetermined time after the light source is turned on. 
     
     
       8. The method of purifying water of claim 7 further including the step of removing the lamp and water-tight ultraviolet transmissive cover from the container after the lamp is shut off. 
     
     
       9. A method of purifying water that is held in a container, the method including the steps of: A. immersing in the water to be purified an outwardly extending ultraviolet light source and associated water-tight ultraviolet transmissive cover;   B. turning the light source on to emit ultraviolet radiation in the water;   C. agitating the water by stirring the water with the light source and cover end of the system, the radiation from the light source purifying the water;   D. turning the light source off and removing the light source and associated cover from the water.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 further including the step of sensing that the light source is immersed fully in the water before turning on the light source.